Fruit-gatherer.



No. 816,186. PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906.

G. H. ROBERTS. FRUIT GATHERER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1905.

f Tigginesses nventor. VW l 9' UE rrEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRUIT-GATHERER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 27, 1906.

Application iiled April 6, 1905. Serial No. 254,215.

To @ZZ whom, it Wray concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE HENRY RoB- ERTs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richburg, in the county of Allegany and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Fruit-Gatherer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fruit-gatherers of the class wherein a cloth body is supported beneath the tree with its outer edge elevated, and has for its object to improve the construction and increase the efficiency and convenience of operating devices of this charac# ter.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafterl fully described and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts axe denoted by like designating characters, is illustrated the preferred form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the invention is not necessa'ily limited thereto, as various changes in the shape, proportions, and general assemblage of the parts maybe resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advan tages.

ln the drawings thus employed, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device applied. Fior. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a detail, enlarged, of a portion of the apron, illustrating tlie construction more fully. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

The improved device comprises a body portion or apron (represented as a whole at 10) of suitable fabric and constructed similarly to an ordinary umbrella or of a plurality of wedge-shaped strips overlappingv at their edges and united, as by sewing, as indicated at 25, and with a binding-strip 27, inclosing the outer ends of the wedge-shaped members and likewise inclosing a rope-stay 11, the latter extending entirely around the apron. The inner and smaller edge of the apron is supplied with a binding 14 inclosing a rope 28, similar to the binding 27 and rope 11 at the outer margin of the apron. At the outer end of every alternate seam 25 of the apron a strap 13 is` disposed and folded centrally upon itself and with a supporting-ring 12 in the fold, the straps being secured to the apron by rivets 26, passing through the two parts of the straps 13, the two sides of the inclosing binding-strip 27, and the overlapping edges of the wedge shaped apron sections, as shown. By this means the straps and outer binding-strip are firmly coupled to the apron and the strains distributed over an extended area of the fabric of which the apron is composed, so that no danger exists of tearing the parts when subjected to the severe strains to which such devices are subjected. The strains are all imparted longitudinally of the seams 25, so that no danger exists of drawing the apron out of shape when the strains are applied. At one point of the member 10 one of the seams is left open or disconnected, as at 16, and the edges provided with snaps 17 of any approved construction, by which the parts are detachably connected when placed in position about the tree. The ends of the outer binding-rope 11 are extended, as at 18, at the opening-16, and the ends of the inne; binding-rope 14 are likewise extended, as at 19, to provide means for tying the divided apron structure together, and thus increase the strength and prevent the strains coming wholly upon the snaps 17.

Disposed about the trunk of the tree 15 is a sleeve 22, composed of fabric or other flexible mateial, and to and intermediate the ends of which the funnel-shaped apron 10 is attached, being connected by the cords or ropes 23 in almement with the seams 25. The outer surface of the sleeve 22 is padded or covered with felt or other elastic material and against which the fruit strikes in the passage between the cords 23 and is thereby saved from bruising. The cords 23 being secured to the inner ends of seams 25 the strain is largely upon the seams .and ropes and not on the fabric where it is unsupported. By this means the apron will not be drawn out of shape when the strains are applied. The apron is supported in position by stay members 20, provided with spaced notches 21 and inserted through the rings 12 with the rings engaging the notches. The stay members are set in inclined position and driven into the ground, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby firmly bracing and sustaining the apron. Y.

By this simple arrangement it will be obvious the body member may be stretched beneath the tree and surrounding its trunk ICO IOS

with the outer edge elevated, so that the fruit falling therein will all pass through the central aperture and between the guy members 23 and be preserved from injury by the soft materials of which all the parts are composed. As the fruit rolls downward it strikes the yieldable band 22 and then passes to the ground or into suitable receptacles placed to receive it. The body member may be of any suitable size or material, but will preferably be of heavy sheeting or light canvas.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is l. In a fruit-gatherer, an apron constructed from a plurality of fabric members having their side edges converging and united along all of said edges except one by sewing, a binding-strip folded over the outer ends of the united fabric members and sewed thereto, a rope binder within the folded outer bindingstrip straps folded centrally upon themselves and riveted to the binding-strips at points where the seams between the fabric members occur and extended over said seams and secured by rivets passing through the overlapping portions of the fabric members at the seams7 and rings supported by said straps 2. In a fruit-gatherer, an apron constructed from a plurality of fabric members having their side edges converging and united along all of said edges except one by sewin a binding-strip folded over the outer en s of the united fabric members and sewed theretoI a rope binder within the folded outer bindingstrip, a binding-strip folded over the inner ends of said fabric members and sewed thereto, a rope binder within the inner bindingstrip, a band for inclosing the trunk of the tree from which the fruit is to be gathered, guy members connecting said band to said apron at the points where the seams occur, straps folded centrally upon themselves and riveted to the outer binding-strip at points where the radial seams occur and extended over said seams and secured by rivets passing through the overlapping portions at the seams, and rings supported by said straps.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE HENRY ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

E. W. BLrss, M. H. CoATs. 

